Key holder



Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

' This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in key holders and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction and arrangement for firmly securing a plurality of keys in Xed position in a manner to prevent accidental displacement and to'facilitate nding a particular key in the dark.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a key holder of the aforementioned character embodying novel means for mounting said key holder in a pocketbook or purse or the like for swinging movement and a manner to facilitate removal of the holder when desired While permitting the securing or connecting means to remain.

Other objects oi the invention are to provide a key holder of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specication, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a key holder constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the same mounted in a pocketbook, said pocketbook being broken away to expose the device.

Figure 2 is a View n front elevation, showing the attaching device towhich the holder is connected when mounted in a pocketbook.

Figure 3 is a View in front elevation of the holder.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the invention. I

Figure 5 is a, view in vertical section through the holder, showing a pair of keys mounted therein, certain of the clips not being shown.

Figure 6 is a detail View in perspective of the resilient connecting clamp.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line l-l of Figure l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral I designates a flat plate of suitable metal and dimensions which, in the arrangement illustrated, is adapted to be detachably secured in a pocketbook 2. Pairs of integral resilient clips 3 are struck out in opposite directions from the plate I in a manner to leave openings 4 in said plate. The pairs of openings 4 are spaced from each other in a manner to leave therebetween what may be referred to as lands 5. It will also 5; be noted that the arrangement is such that the openings 4 are spaced inwardly from all of the marginal edges of the plate I.

The resilient clips 3 are adapted to receive therebeneath the keys 6 to be held. Pressed in- 10 Wardly from the resilient clips 3 are ribs 'l which are engageable longitudinally in the usual groove 8 of the keys 6 for rmly securing said keys in position against lateral or swinging movement on the plate I with a minimum of pressure. l5

The reference numeral 8 designates a conventional safety pin which is mounted on the lining 9 of the pocketbook 2 in the manner shown to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing. Mounted on the safety pin 8 is a resilient clamp which is 20 designated generally by the reference numeral I 0. The clamp Ill is made from a suitable piece of resilient metal bent upon itself in a manner to form a loop II which slidably receives the pin 8 and from which resilient jaws I2 extend. One of the jaws I2 has pressed thereinto detents I3 which are engageable in sockets I4 which are pressed into the upper portion of the plate I. 'Ihe pressed sockets I4 provide detents I5 (see Figure 4) on the opposite side of the plate I which are 30 engageable in sockets I6 (see Figure 7) which are pressed into the other jaw I2.

To mount the keys 6 in position, said keys are simply slipped transversely beneath the resilient clips 3 in a manner to engage the retaining ribs 35 1 longitudinally in the grooves 8 of said keys. When secured in position in this manner the keys 6 bridge the openings 4 in the plate I. The lands 5 prevent the ends of comparatively short keys from dipping into the openings 4. As herein- 40 before stated, the longitudinal ribs 'I engaged in the grooves 8' of the keys 6 prevent said keys from sliding out from beneath the free ends of the clips 3 and also prevent said keys from being swung or rotated on the plate I. By engaging 45 the plate I in the clamp I0 the holder will be mounted in the pocketbook 2 in a manner to permit said holder to be conveniently swung to give access to the keys on both sides thereof. Of course, the holder may be conveniently re- 50 moved when desired by simply slipping the plate I out from between the jaws I2, leaving the pin 8 and the clamp I0 in position in the pocketbook ready to receive the holder again. It is the intention that each holder when sold, be accom- 56 panied by two, for example, of the pins 8 and the clamps I which may be permanently mounted in different pocketbooks, thus rendering transferring the holder from one pocketbook to another very convenient.

It is believed that the many advantages of a key holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed isz- 1. A key holder for keys provided with a longitudinal groove therein, said holder comprising a plate, key retaining clips on said plate and in closely spaced relation with the plate to secure the key upon the plate, and means on said clips engageable in the grooves of the keys for securing said keys against lateral movement on the plate in a direction transversely with respect to the groove.

2. A key holder for keys provided with a longitudinal groove therein, said holder comprising a plate, resilient clips struck out from said plate and in closely spaced relation with the plate to secure the key upon the plate, and ribs on said clips engageable longitudinally in the grooves of the keys for retaining said keys against lateral movement on the plate in a direction transversely with respect to the groove.

3. A key holder for keys provided with a longitudinal groove therein, said holder comprising a plate, pairs of resilient, integral clips struck from the plate in opposite directions and in closely spaced relation thereto for securing keys on said plate, and ribs pressed inwardly in the clips and engageable longitudinally in the grooves of the keys for securing said keys against lateral movement in a direction transversely with respect to the groove.

4. A key holder for keys provided with a longitudinal groove therein, said holder comprising a substantially flat, metallic plate, resilient clips struck from said plate and in closely spaced relation thereto for releasably securing said keys on said plate, said clips leaving openings in the plate, said openings being spaced from the edges of the plate, lands between the openings, and ribs on the clips engageable longitudinally in the grooves of the keys for securing said keys against lateral movement on the plate in a direction transversely with respect to the groove.

5. A key holder comprising a pin, a clamp mounted on said pin, said clamp including a loop slidably receiving the pin and resilient opposed jaws projecting from said loop, a detachable plate engageable between the jaws, and key retaining clips struck from said plate and spaced closely relative to said plate to releasably secure keys on the plate, said keys having longitudinal grooves therein and means on the clips engaged in the grooves to secure the keys against transverse movement of the plate.

6. A key holder comprising a pin, a clamp mounted on said pin, said clamp including a loop slidably receiving the pin and resilient opposed jaws projecting from said loop, a detachable plate engageable between the jaws, the resilient jaws and the plate including coacting means for releasably securing said plate between said jaws and key retaining clips struck from said plate and spaced closely relative to said plate to releasably secure keys on the plate, said keys having longitudinal grooves therein and means on the clips engaged in the grooves to secure the keys against transverse movement on the plate.

MATTHEW C. BRANDT. 

